Chemical composition and antifungal activity of supercritical extract and essential oil of Tanacetum vulgare growing wild in Lithuania.

This article reports the results concerning the qualitative and quantitative composition of the volatile oil obtained from the aerial parts of Tanacetum vulgare, collected in Lithuania, by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with CO2 at 90 bar and 40 °C and by hydrodistillation (HD). GC-MS and GC-FID analysis revealed that the oils mainly consisted of 1,8-cineole, trans-thujone, cis-chrysanthenol, borneol and myrtenol. Oils obtained by HD displayed, with respect to the SFE volatile oil, a higher amount of hydrocarbon monoterpenes.

Reproducibility of two different methods for performing mean gray value evaluation of cyst content in endometriomas using VOCAL.

Objective: To compare two different methods (manual sampling of the entire cyst and semi-automated spherical sampling from the central part of the cyst) for calculating the mean gray value (MGV) from the cystic content in endometriomas using virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL).

Methods: Forty-one volumes from histologically confirmed endometriomas were retrieved from our database and the volumes were analyzed to compare the MGVs obtained via the two modalities. In addition, to evaluate the reproducibility in a sample of 20 volumes, two different observers calculated the MGV from cyst content using VOCAL software.

Application of the novel method in the diagnosis and treatment of median rhomboid glossitis Candida-associated.

The aim of this work is to demonstrate how current molecular techniques should be integrated in the diagnostic process and can have a crucial role in the management of oral fungal infections. A case of median rhomboid glossitis Candida-associated and its resolution will be described step by step. At the time of the first observation, the lesion on the surface of the tongue did not respond to the previous administration of topical antifungal agent, such a nystatin.

Response time, visual search strategy, and anticipatory skills in volleyball players.

This paper aimed at comparing expert and novice volleyball players in a visuomotor task using realistic stimuli. Videos of a volleyball setter performing offensive action were presented to participants, while their eye movements were recorded by a head-mounted video based eye tracker. Participants were asked to foresee the direction (forward or backward) of the setter's toss by pressing one of two keys.

Human mesenchymal stromal cell transplantation modulates neuroinflammatory milieu in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Background Aims: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), after intraparenchymal, intrathecal and endovenous administration, have been previously tested for cell therapy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) mouse. However, every administration route has specific pros and cons.

Methods: We administrated human MSCs (hMSCs) in the cisterna lumbaris, which is easily accessible and could be used in outpatient surgery, in the SOD1 G93A mouse, at the earliest onset of symptoms.

Optic flow neurons in area PEc integrate eye and head position signals.

Neurons in area PEc, a visual area located in the superior parietal lobule, are activated by optic flow stimuli. An important issue is whether PEc neurons are able to integrate multimodal signals, such as those related to optic flow selectivity with those about eye and head position. The aim of this study was to assess if angle of gaze and/or head rotation modify the spatial representation of the focus of expansion (FOE), varying FOE, fixation point and head position in space.

Preparation, physical-chemical and biological characterization of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with lysozyme.

A commercially available chitosan (CS) was employed in the formulation of nanoparticles loaded with lysozyme (LZ) as antimicrobial protein drug model. Due to the variability of commercially available batches of chitosans and to the strict dependence of their physical and biological properties to the molecular weight (Mw) and deacetylation degree (DD) of the material, the CS was fully characterized resulting in weight-average molecular weight of 108,120g/mol and DD of 92%. LZ-loaded nanoparticles (LZ-NPs) of 150nm diameter were prepared by inotropic gelation.

Selective vulnerability of spinal and cortical motor neuron subpopulations in delta7 SMA mice.

Loss of the survival motor neuron gene (SMN1) is responsible for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the most common inherited cause of infant mortality. Even though the SMA phenotype is traditionally considered as related to spinal motor neuron loss, it remains debated whether the specific targeting of motor neurons could represent the best therapeutic option for the disease. We here investigated, using stereological quantification methods, the spinal cord and cerebral motor cortex of ∆7 SMA mice during development, to verify extent and selectivity of motor neuron loss.

Importance of optic flow for postural stability of male and female young adults.

Purpose: A feedback control process based on self-motion perception contributes to postural stability; however, little is known about the visual modulation of postural muscles. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of optic flow stimuli, presented full field, in the peripheral and foveal visual field, on muscular activation. Then, we assessed the correlation between optic flow, muscle activity and body sway in male and female subjects.

Assessing the reproducibility of the IOTA simple ultrasound rules for classifying adnexal masses as benign or malignant using stored 3D volumes.

Objective: To analyze the reproducibility of the IOTA simple ultrasound rules for classifying adnexal masses as benign or malignant among examiners with different level of expertise using stored 3D volumes of adnexal masses.

Study Design: Five examiners, with different levels of experience and blinded to each other, evaluated 100 stored 3D volumes from adnexal masses and looked for the presence or absence of malignant or benign features according to the IOTA definitions. Multiplanar view and virtual navigation were used.

Radiographic outcome and complications of tibial plateau leveling osteotomy stabilized with an anatomically contoured locking bone plate.

Objective: To evaluate the short-term clinical performance of an anatomically pre-contoured, locking plate in dogs undergoing tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) for cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) disease.

Study Design: Prospective, multi-center clinical study.

Animals: Dogs (n = 56) undergoing TPLO.

[Effects of dose of erythropoiesis stimulating agents on cardiovascular outcomes, quality of life and costs of haemodialysis. the clinical evaluation of the DOSe of erythropoietins (C.E. DOSE) Trial].

Background: Anaemia is a risk factor for death, adverse cardiovascular outcomes and poor quality of life in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents (ESA) are the most used treatment option. In observational studies, higher haemoglobin (Hb) levels (around 11-13 g/dL) are associated with improved survival and quality of life compared to Hb levels around 9-10 g/dL.

Long-term, up to 18 months, protective effects of the angiotensin II receptor blocker telmisartan on Epirubin-induced inflammation and oxidative stress assessed by serial strain rate.

Purpose: The primary objective of the present study was to show the long lasting cardioprotective activity, at different time-points, up to 18 month-follow-up, of telmisartan in preserving the systolic function (assessed as Strain Rate-SR) in cancer patients treated with EPI both in the adjuvant and metastatic setting; the secondary objective was to confirm the correlation of the cardioprotective activity of telmisartan with a reduction of inflammation and oxidative stress induced by EPI.

Methods: Phase II single blind placebo-controlled randomized trial. Sample size 50 patients per arm: based on a pre-planned interim analysis for early stopping rules, the study was discontinued for ethical reasons at 49 patients.

Magnetism and spin dynamics of novel encapsulated iron oxide superparamagnetic nanoparticles.

Encapsulated Fe3O4 nanoparticles of average diameters d = 12 nm are obtained by coprecipitation, in the presence of 2-methoxyethanol hemiester of poly(maleic anhydride-alt-butyl vinyl ether) 5% grafted with poly(ethylene glycol) (VP-MAG nanoparticles). A complete characterization of nude and encapsulated nanoparticles through structural techniques (namely XRD, TEM, SEM), Raman spectroscopy and magnetic measurements has been performed. These nanoparticles compared with commercial compounds (ENDOREM®) present superparamagnetic behavior and nuclear relaxivities that make them promising as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents (CAs).

IOTA simple rules for discriminating between benign and malignant adnexal masses: prospective external validation.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic performance of International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) 'simple' rules for discriminating between benign and malignant adnexal masses.

Methods: A prospective study was performed between January 2011 and June 2012. Eligible patients were women diagnosed with a persistent adnexal mass who presented to the participating centers.

Association of high levels of α-defensins and S100A proteins with Candida mannan detection in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of preterm neonates.

Background: Candida mannan (Mn) detection in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was shown to be useful for earlier identification and preemptive therapy targeting in preterm infants at high risk of invasive Candida infection. We investigated whether early detection of Candida Mn in BALF is associated with the presence of some neutrophilic products, as markers of prenatal infection/inflammation.

Methods: BALF specimens were collected during the first 48 h of life from mechanically ventilated preterm newborns.

Extraction of the volatile oil from Carum carvi of Tunisia and Lithuania by supercritical carbon dioxide: chemical composition and antiulcerogenic activity.

This study investigates whether the essential oil prepared from Carum carvi seeds exhibits antiulcerogenic activity. Its volatile oil was obtained by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and by hydrodistillation. The essential oils were analysed by GC-MS to monitor their composition.

Evaluation of antioxidant potential of “maltese mushroom” (Cynomorium coccineum) by means of multiple chemical and biological assays.

Cynomorium coccineum is an edible, non-photosynthetic plant widespread along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. The medicinal properties of Maltese mushroom - one of the oldest vernacular names used to identify this species - have been kept in high regard since ancient times to the present day. We evaluated the antioxidant potential of fresh specimens of C.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-a) in Fabry disease: association with cutaneous and systemic manifestations with vascular involvement.

Introduction: Fabry disease is an X-linked inherited metabolic disorder characterized by the deficiency of lysosomal α-galactosidase A enzyme. This leads to the accumulation, into lysosomes through the body, of glycosphingolipids, mainly Gb3. Skin involvement and progressive multi-organ failure are usually observed.

Antibacterial, allelopathic and antioxidant activities of essential oil of Salvia officinalis L. growing wild in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.

Salvia officinalis (Common sage, Culinary sage) is an aromatic plant that is frequently used as a spice in Mediterranean cookery and in the food industry and as a traditional medicine for the treatment of several infectious diseases. The essential oils were obtained by two different methods [hydrodistillation (HD) and microwave (Mw)] from the aerial part of S. officinalis L.

Biomechanical and computational evaluation of two loading transfer concepts for pancarpal arthrodesis in dogs.

Objective: To evaluate 2 plate designs for pancarpal arthrodesis and their effects on load transfer to the respective bones as well as to develop a computational model with directed input from the biomechanical testing of the 2 constructs.

Sample: Both forelimbs from the cadaver of an adult castrated male Golden Retriever.

Procedures: CT imaging was performed on the forelimb pair.

Minimally invasive repair of meta-bones.

Metacarpal and metatarsal fractures are common injuries in small animals and, in most of the cases, can be treated by minimally invasive techniques. Bone plates applied through epi-periosteal tunnels can stabilize meta-bones. Meta-bones III and IV are stabilized by dorsally applied plates.

Long-term protective effects of the angiotensin receptor blocker telmisartan on epirubicin-induced inflammation, oxidative stress and myocardial dysfunction.

Chronic inflammation, oxidative stress and the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) play a significant role in chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity (CTX). Telmisartan (TEL), an antagonist of the angiotensin II type-1 receptor, was found to reduce anthracycline (ANT)-induced CTX. We carried out a phase II placebo (PLA)-controlled randomized trial to assess the possible role of TEL in the prevention of cardiac subclinical damage induced by epirubicin (EPI).

Isolation of the volatile fraction from Apium graveolens L. (Apiaceae) by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and hydrodistillation: chemical composition and antifungal activity.

Apium graveolens L. (wild celery), belonging to the family of Apiaceae, is a scaposus hemicryptophyte. Instead, the cultivate plant is an annual or biennial herb widely used as a spice and seasoning in food.

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy.

In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding.